http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-add-Tim-Federowicz-Matt-Ramsey-on-minor-12421767.php
Astros add Tim Federowicz, Matt Ramsey on minor league deals
Updated 6:29 pm, Monday, December 11, 2017
Houston Astros catcher Max Stassi walks from the bullpen with his gear on during batting practice before the start of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )
lessHouston Astros catcher Max Stassi walks from the bullpen with his gear on during batting practice before the start of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Houston. ( Karen
... moreThe batter's eye with the Houston Astros logo and the 409 marker on the center field fence during the tour of the new center field at Minute Maid Park, Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Houston. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )
lessThe batter's eye with the Houston Astros logo and the 409 marker on the center field fence during the tour of the new center field at Minute Maid Park, Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Houston. ( Karen Warren /
... moreLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. --- The Astros signed veteran catcher Tim Federowicz to a minor league contract Monday, adding a player with major league experience to compete in spring training with Max Stassi.
Stassi is the frontrunner to be the Astros' No. 2 catcher behind Brian McCann next season but the team lost Stassi's main source of competition when Juan Centeno was claimed off waivers last month by the Texas Rangers. Though he may still catch some, Evan Gattis is expected to get more of his at-bats from the designated hitter's spot next season.
Federowicz, 30, has played for the Dodgers, Cubs and Giants.
"We've had our eye on him for a while," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "The last few years we've made a run at trying to get him on a minor league deal. I'm excited to have him. I think he's going to be a really good option for us to have, especially on a minor league deal.
"This guy's got experience at the big leagues and we like a lot about him. So, (he) definitely replaces what we lost with Centeno."
Federowicz, who bats and throws right handed and is listed at 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, appeared in 13 games for the Giants last season and spent most of the year with their Class AAA Sacramento affiliate. He batted .300 with an .829 OPS in 314 Pacific Coast League plate appearances.
In addition to Federowicz, the Astros also signed righthander Matt Ramsey to a minor league deal. Like Federowicz, Ramsey also received an invitation to major league spring training.
The 28-year-old reliever, who's listed at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, has never pitched in the majors and has bounced around between the Rays, Marlins and Brewers organizations. He had a 3.65 ERA with 58 strikeouts to 18 walks in 44 1/3 innings in Class AA last year but a 18.56 ERA in just 5 1/3 innings in Class AAA.
The Astros won the World Series just weeks after Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston. George Springer, who was named MVP of the series, says winning provided an outlet and a chance for the city to rebound.
Media: Cheddar TV"He's improved his arsenal in the last year or so and we want to see what that looks like over the course of a season with us," Luhnow said. "We think he's a good fit for us, a guy to have to come to spring training, have our staff get to know him and a guy that would be a possibility to come up at some point during the year."
Odds & ends
--- Luhnow said Monday afternoon he had yet to speak with Dallas Keuchel's new agent, Scott Boras, about the Astros' lefthander. Keuchel is set to go through the arbitration process for a third time this winter as he enters his final year under contract.
--- Astros vice president of communications Gene Dias was presented the 2017 Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence on Monday night.
